Northern Demons return to Athelstone where last season had its second round encounter with NAB abandoned and consequently losing the needle game 0-3 .
That loss significantly led to the Reds missing out on the finals, but more so felt the brunt and blamed for referee abuse that came from the Demons bench area.
However the Demons on Saturday need to make amends against NAB and be on their good behaviour in a game that can tighten the top five pending on the result.
As for Port Pirie City it takes on season cellar dweller Gawler at Savoy Park in a contest the locals start Quite strong favourites in.
After defeating NAB last week some sort of league revival could be well on the cards for the Green & Whites.
But obviously it will be the Demons away game with NAB that lasted only 42 minutes late last season which will be closely monitored all afternoon.
And the return Derby game scheduled for Savoy Park is on next Saturday where another big contest is certainly on the cards between the two clubs.
City can’t afford to take bottom side too lightly
Port Pirie City v Gawler
Saturday, May 23 Savoy Park
Port Pirie City cannot dismiss too lightly last season’s results against Gawler this Saturday afternoon at Savoy Park and should have some respect for the State League’s
bottom team.
City will be looking at winning their fourth home game when it takes on the Steve Green coached Gawler Eagles, and after a solid 2-1 win over highly rated NAB last week there should be no reason whatsoever why the Green and Whites cannot make it two straight.
The Joseph Amato led City combination could play an improved starting eleven against Gawler with up to three probably waiting to get back into the team.
But influential City player Joe Rechichi will not play due to an injury that is expected to last almost another month.
Nevertheless the poor City result coming from previous games against the Eagles should be overturned quick smart on Saturday with the Savoy Park team attempting to edge its way towards a more acceptable position on the ladder.
In the last month or so Gawler has lost all its games and has conceded some 27 goals – it has lost 0-10 to league leaders Enfield City, 0-5 to the Demons and last week was defeated 1-4 by Playford City, while its only point came in a 2-2 draw with Noarlunga way back in round two.
Amato surely expects his combination to take full points in Saturday’s round eleven game at Savoy Park, and in the meantime was quite pleased with what he saw of new player Adrian Aufiero against NAB.
City will be without Vincent Bellifemini who was sent off in last weeks game, but should get Mitchell Hume back and could also see skipper Terry McGinnis start against Gawler after warming the bench and coming on for the final minutes in his teams 2-1 win.
However the City combination will show a few alterations especially with ins and outs pending this Saturday afternoon – McGinnis may well slot in attack and Adam Bellifemini moving to the middle.
It was refreshing to see Vincent DeGioia being so prominent against NAB, and not only was he responsible for both goals but in the way he applied himself all afternoon.
Whereas it is the City defence that continues to please coach Amato who with Tony Zito and Rhys Gillet now has Lee Smith and Michael Patruno combining well also.
For Gawler Christian Rochau scored last week against Playford in a game where the scores were all tied up at halftime 1-1, before the Eagles conceded three unanswered 2nd half goals.
On the season current performances the Gawler outfit that plays a number of young club players from last year again rely on Adrian Trimboli, Andrew Doran, Scott Andrews, Adrian Lynn and new addition and defender Tony Nieowenhuizen .
Port Pirie City get a glorious opportunity to win again on Saturday and keep improvising its soccer season, but obviously need to overcome mental distractions that saw Gawler winning both games last year.
City’s Tony Zito has been the finest performer for the locals and his former Blue Eagles team mate Adrian Aufiero who played pretty well last week will obviously be out to follow his mate’s footsteps.
PORT PIRIE CITY from:
Jayden Corrieri (GK) Vincent Bellifemini, Rhys Gillett, Vincent DeGioia, Chris Bouzoudis, Adam Bellifemini, Adrian Aufiero, Tony Zito, Josef Caputo, Lee Smith, Michael Patruno, David DeGioia, Joe Rechichi, Matthew McKerlie (RGK).
COACH: Joseph AMATO.
GAWLER from:
Greg Joy (GK), Christian Rochau, Andrew Doran, Ian Usher, Matthew Cockington, Scott Andrews, Brett Stone, Andrew Trimboli, Kieran Dunkley, Adrian James, Mark Griffiths, Tony Nieowenhuizen, Liam Hogg, Adrian Lynn, Thomas Gilmour, Jamie Gurney,
Daniel Chester (RGK).
COACH: Steven GREEN.
Chance to atone
Northern Demons v NAB
Saturday, May 23 Athelstone Reserve
Northern Demons return to Athesltone Reserve where its infamous round sixteen game late last year against NAB was abandoned with the locals losing the fixture after a FFSA Tribunal decision.
However this Saturday’s round eleven State League game gives the third placed Demons the opportunity to atone in a contest where the results must count this time.
The Athelstone combination will be still furious about dropping points to Port Pirie City last week and NAB coach Ange Giannitto is expected to have the home team primed for the Demons visit.
Both teams will need to replace key players due to suspension with the Demons losing invaluable Daniel Cox and NAB now being without strong defender George Belekas.
In the meantime both combinations do vary with the Reds lamenting with injuries and alternate starting line ups every week, while NAB continually showing huge squads in the media.
Nonetheless this round eleven game is as important as was the teams’ last encounter at the identical Athelstone Reserve that was terminated three minutes before halftime last season.
This time NAB finds itself on the edge of the top five with only Seafords better scoring separating it – and a win on Saturday will get it to a point of the Northern Demons.
Demons coach Anthony Brevi will be relieved somewhat with the return of quick fire forward Sam Salvemini who NAB have yet to see properly, but a serious doubts of both Adam Giancaspro and Patrick Saracino are strong and whether John Motley play is the crux of the Reds selection evening.
Motley is crucial to the Demons offensively and the team’s winning chances, while Saracino is a clever player defensively having nullified most top forwards.
Reds’ players Anthony Fasciano and Adrian Leet class of soccer on Saturday will be essential and a more accuracy is necessary from strong forward Mick Edwards.
NAB coach Giannitto will looking at snatching Saturday’s win away from the Demons and whichever team adopts best to conditions and whoever comes up with the best selection will win this game.
Home players like Peter Karaksilis. Max Bonnett, and Mark Seatree in the middle of the park and forward runners in Raff Frisina who scored last week and former City player Frank Ammirato will be players that can trouble the Demons.
Nonetheless it’s a game that will be interesting enough to say the least, and the Demons 1-0 win over Cove was not as inspiring as you would have expected last week – Brevi will need his crew to be at their best and for some players to come up for this game.
******
NAB from:
Michael DiBiase (GK), Peter Varrichio, Mark Seatree, Peter Karakasilis, Peter Viscarello, Nathan Sette, Raff Frisina, Bruno Calabrese, Frank Ammirato, Patrick Stabile, Alex Saccardo, Elias Koury, Larry Piscioneri, Max Bonnet, Anthony Capaldi (RGK)
COACH: Ange GIANNITTO.
NORTHERN DEMONS from:
Maurie Mezzino (GK & Capt), Roy Mezzino, John Motley, Kai Solomon, Adrian Leet, Pat Keane, Anthony Fasciano, Michael Edwards, John Saler, Sam Salvemini, Adam Giancaspro,
Nick Capurso, Andrew Cox, Nigel (RGK),
COACH: Anthony BREVI.
PHOTOo: AT HOME..Savoy Park will host Port Pirie City against Gawler in round 11 of State League Soccer. Pictured in last week’s match at home is City’s Marcus Amato, left.
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